Avon Valley Drive Trails
Discover the scenic beauty of the Avon Valley.
Avon Historic Drive Trail
Avon Historic Tourist Drive, is a scenic route through the Avon Valley and surrounding countryside that will take you to some of the Avon Valley's major townships, starting in Toodyay and visiting Northam, York and Beverley. The 98 kilometre route travels alongside the Avon River and is an excellent day out from Perth with plenty of interesting stops and opportunities for a nice lunch along the way.
Avon Valley Art Trail
The Avon Valley Art Trail, a self-discover trails outlines public art pieces in Beverley, Goomalling, Northam, Toodyay and York.
Beverley: Take a stroll down the main street of Beverley and admire the historic buildings and murals painted by James Giddy. You will also find other murals at the Station Gallery Gardens, IGA, The Art Garden and Red Vault. The Beverley Station Arts and Platform Theatre is a multipurpose cultural precinct at the Victorian Tudor style Railway Station that houses the Shire of Beverley art collection. The Art Garden, featuring a fascinating sculpture garden and East End Gallery, with an extensive range of paintings, jewellery and craft available for sale, are also worth visiting.
Goomalling: Mosaics, murals, sculptures and other public artworks adorn the walls and spaces around Goomalling. The Wheatbelt Wander Wall on Railway Tce is the result of a community project art project coordinated and installed by local artist Fleur Schell. The artwork draws inspiration from the C.Y. O'Connor pipeline and includes ceramic tiles created by community members.
Northam: With a variety of murals, sculptures, and exhibitions from local art groups, Northam has a wealth of public art for you to discover on your travels around town. Meander down the main street and you will notice 12 sculptures placed outside historically significant places, that highlight some of the interesting stories of Northam's past. There are a variety of murals throughout the region, from the stunning mural on the historic Northam Flour Mill, to FORM's PUBLIC Silo Trail that begins in Northam, and brings world class murals to grain silos, transformer boxes and iconic infrastructure in unexpected towns right across the state.
Toodyay: Admire Toodyay's public murals in Charcoal Lane behind IGA including the bright birds mural, a joint venture between Toodyay Tidy Towns and the Shire of Toodyay following Toodyay's win at the 2015 National Tidy Towns awards. The Bushells sign dating back to the 1930s and is situated behind the heritage listed Jager Store which has undergone a number of business changes since it was built in 1897. Uniquely Toodyay is a cooperative of local artists and producers located in the Old Post Office where you can browse original artworks and creations and discover local produce and products.
York: York's Historic Flour Mill precinct offers insta-worthy motives and features the Flour Mill emporium - a collective of local artists and craftspeople.
Avon Valley 500 Loop
Find beauty, romance and a slice of old Spain on a relaxing weekend trip to York, Toodyay and New Norcia. Soak up the serenity of Australia’s only monastic town, the heritage of WA’s first inland settlement and the Avon Valley’s natural beauty, all within less than two hours’ drive from Perth. View the brochure and map for more information.
Botanical Journeys - Toodyay to New Norcia
Trace the footsteps of James Drummond and Charles Gardner from Toodyay to New Norcia on the Botanical Journeys drive trail. This path travels the back roads of Toodyay and Victoria Plains, past farmland and natural bush and to the Drummond Reserve and Rica Erickson Reserve. Drummond Reserve has over 400 species of native plants within its boundaries, including two rare and seven priority species. Rica Erickson Reserve is an open woodland growing over low heath and Spider Orchids are particularly good in spring. Most of Old Plains Road is unsealed so caution is advised.
Pioneer Pathway - Toodyay to Merredin
The Pioneers' Pathway is a self-drive route that traverses the Wheatbelt between Toodyay and Merredin following the well worn trail early prospectors travelled to the Yilgarn, Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie Goldfields. Wander past expansive farmland and nature reserves through the small towns of Goomalling, Dowerin, Wyalkatchem, Trayning and Nungarin. The sealed two-lane road offers historical towns, many with names derived from Aboriginal words, with museums full of pioneer farming, millitary and rail history. Marvel at the construction of stone pioneer wells dug to supply water to the travellers. Nature based family excursions take you exploring along bush walking trails to pristine reserves and 2,500 million year granite rock features where an abundance of birds and animals call home.
Public Silo Trail
The PUBLIC Silo Trail, completed in September 2018 by cultural organisation FORM in partnership with the State's largest grain handler CBH Group, has become one of Western Australia’s iconic drive trails linking together strong cultural narratives, storytelling and world class art, along one self-drive route. The Northam Silo murals were completed in 2015 by international artists Phlegm and HENSE. Over two weeks they painted the huge silos, all while the CBH went about usual operations. Visit the PUBLIC Silo Trail website for further information on the massive works of art and to plan your Silo Trail adventure across WA.
Toodyay Lovers Lane Scenic Drive
The Lovers Lane Scenic Drive is an alternative 17 kilometre route to/from Toodyay, down Lovers Lane and River Roads to Julimar Road and can be undertaken in either direction. The drive offers a scenic drive through farmland and natural bush, with much of the route following the Avon River. A small detour down Cobbler Pool Road will bring you to a scenic spot with a view of Posselt's Ford, one of the viewing locations for the Avon Descent. Sections of the road are unsealed but the majority is bitumen. In winter there may be water over the road near the intersection of Lovers Lane and Morangup Road. A brochure on more Toodyay drive trails can be found at the Toodyay Visitor Centre.
York Self Drive Trail
Immerse yourself in country living at York along a York Serf Drive Trail. A haven of rural tranquility located right on Perth's doorstep, York is famed for its historic buildings, museums, galleries and collectables shops. Leisurely journeys exploring quiet country roads, national park landscapes and rolling farmland enable you to relax and rediscover the real Australia still found in the Avon Valley and Wheatbelt.
York Self Drives - Sky O’the North
“Sky O’the North that’s vast and still, with a single star to cheer me….” Robert Service. The Sky O’the North route to the north of York shows off the vast skies in this wide open, gently undulating rural landscape. Choose a circular loop or links to Northam and Toodyay to explore further. From York, head towards Perth on the Gt. Southern Highway, then turn down Ashworth road where at the weekends you'll find a Wara Art straw sculpture and delicious goodies at York Olive Oil and Ice Creamery. The route then passes through some of the most scenic farmland along Mokine road, but if it's wildflower season (August to mid-October) you may prefer an alternative route taking in several beautiful Nature Reserves.
